Using PowerCfg to Evaluate System Energy Efficiency

Updated: March 26, 2010

File name: PowerCfg.docx
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This paper provides information about new functionality within the PowerCfg utility for evaluating system energy efficiency for the Windows family of operating systems. It provides guidelines for system manufacturers to take advantage of this new PowerCfg functionality before shipping a new system model to customers. Similarly, IT professionals can use these PowerCfg enhancements to diagnose and resolve end-user problems with portable computer battery life and desktop energy efficiency.

In addition to power policy configuration, PowerCfg also enables system manufacturers to inspect a Windows platform for common energy efficiency problems. Many individual energy efficiency problems can be detected, including inefficient power policy settings, USB device selective suspend issues, and platform firmware problems that relate to processor power management capabilities. This paper describes how to use PowerCfg to evaluate system energy efficiency and details the energy efficiency problems that might be detected.

This Information applies to the Windows 7 operating system.

What's New

• Added information that the energy-report.html file cannot be opened by Internet Explorer if it's located in C:\Windows\System32.

• Added reference to Processor Power Management in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Included in this white paper:

• Using PowerCfg to Evaluate Energy Efficiency

• Understanding Energy Efficiency Problems

• Advanced PowerCfg Techniques

• Troubleshooting the PowerCfg -ENERGY Command